Game apparatus.



H. W. STANDIDGE.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 31,1908.

Patented 18, 1911.

Jill- Affe/'772,11

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. u.

UNITED sTxTEs PATENT oEEroE.

HARRY W. STANDIDGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAME APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY W. STANDIDGE, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,l such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to game apparatus, its principal object being to provide a board upon which a game representing a base ball game may be played, and consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my inventionFigure l is a plan view of a game apparatus made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, except that the game box is closed. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail horizontal section on the line H of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents one set of balls for use with the game board.

It is well known that it is old in game apparatus to provide a board having sockets to receive rolling or movable balls or marbles, and also that it is old to arrange sockets in a form to represent the positions of the bases and of the players on a base ball field. Therefore the particular new features of my invention relate more to the arrangement in the bottom of a box, plate or tray, of a combination of holes both larger and smaller than the operating balls used in connection therewith, said balls being distinguishable each from the others, and a receiving chamber or box for the balls which pass through the larger holes and are thus put out, such chamber being provided by means of the manner of construction of the containing box.

In my said game apparatus I provide a shallow box comprising the bottom or tray member A, and the top or cover member B. The play field is represented on the inside or upper surface C of the bottom`member A, by means of a diamond D printed thereon, and four holes E, F, G, and H, smaller than the operating balls, provided one at each corner of the diamond D, which represent Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 31, 1908.

Pammted July 18, 1911.

Serial No. 424,353.

the home base and the first, second and third bases, respectively, and are adapted to form temporary resting places for the operating balls. The positions of the nine out players on the field are represented by the nine holes J, which are larger than the operating balls. The nine holes J are positioned outside of the lines of the diamond D whichrepresent the base lines and which connect the base holes E, F, Gr, and H, and they are uniformly distant from such bases and base lines according to the respective positions of the nine out players on a standard baseball field. These positions of the holes J do not interfere with the free and safe passage of balls along thef base lines from base to base, and four balls each of which is distinguishable from the others may be conveniently operated on the board at the same time, the play being to land the balls in proper order and sequence upon the various bases.

The cover B of the box is provided, in this instance, with corner posts K, which extend inside the corners from the inside of said cover to near the middle of the height of same, thus forming rests to support the bottom of the box at a distance above the cover when the latter is reversed and the former is entered into same right side up, as shown in Figs. l and 2, thus providing the receiving chamber L in the box below the field of play, to retain the balls which may pass through said larger holes J.

The holes E F G and H, being smaller than the operating balls, are adapted to form resting places for said balls, but do not allow them to pass therethrough. It is obvious that said holes E. F. Gand H might be replaced by depressions or sockets without departing from the spirit of my inven tion.

I provide one or more sets of operating balls M, preferably nine in a set, and the various balls in each set being differently colored, numbered or otherwise marked so that each may be distinguished from the others, as represented in Fig. 5, wherein the lines on same conventionally represent certain colors. For instance, ball carrying the figure l is white, ball 2 is black, 3 yellow, 4 red, 5 blue, 6 green, 7 purple, 8 pink and 9 brown, or any other arrangement or combination of colors or markings could be used that might be convenient, so long as the balls are distinguished each trom the others, so that a ball after it is putin play can be individually followed.

lfn playing the game a ball as N is placed upon the hole or home base E, and the play is to dislodge said ball by tilting, jarring or otherwise disturbing the play board so as lo cause said ball to roll along the surt'ace ot the board and lodge in the hole or first base l?. Should the ball N at any time be inadvertently permitted to pass through any ot the larger holes J into the receiving chamber L, it would count as one man out. ln either case a second ball, distinguishable from the first, is placed upon the home base, and it the first ball is on first base, the play will be to pass the tirst ball to second base G and the second ball to first base l?.

T he game is to continue starting balls, Which are distinguishable each trom the others, on the home base and pass them successively around the diamond, lodging them iny succession on the first, second and third bases and the home base` again, thus making what might be termed runs, until three ot the balls have passed through the larger holes J, into the chamber L beloiv, which would put that side out. Then another set ot difi'erently marked balls, or the same set, may be used to represent an opposing club of ball players and the game be continued, each club having alternate innings or opportunities to play.

lln Fig. l, l have represented the ball ll as on the home base E; in Fig. 2, l have rep resented a ball on the home base E and also one on second base fi, and also one ball as having dropped through one of the larger openings J and resting in the chamber L.

ln Fig. 3 l have shoivn the tivo members A and l); ot the box as in their closed position, and in order to arrange the box so that it will retain the balls used in the game l have placed the false bottom in the bottom of the box to cover the hol-es J, and thus prevent the balls from dropping out. lVhile the bonr is being used in the game the false bottom 0 may be placed in the bottom of the chamber L, as shoivn in Fig. 2. Said members A and B may be provided by various forms ot construction or arrangement other than as herein specifically described. and yet be in accordance with the spirit ot my invention. ln any form or method of construction or arrangement adopted. the member with holes in its surtace as described is the tray, and the other member 'forms the receiving chamber.

l claim as my invention:

l. In a game apparatus a set of four or more operating balls distinguished each from the others by different markings thereon, in combination with a tray provided ivith tour holes each thereot smaller in diameter than the diameter ot each ot said balls and positioned so to represent the four bases on a baseball field, and provided with nine other holes each thereotl larger in diameter than the diameter ot each ot said balls and occupying the positions ot the nine out. players on a baseball field, substantially as described.

in a game apparatus a raised board, a raised margin around the outer edge ot said board, said board having a flat surface and being provided u'ith tour holes ot unitorm size extending therethrough and positioned to represent the tour bases on a baseball field, and also provided With nine other holes of unit'orm size but larger than said base holes extending through said board and located in the positions ot the nine out play-ers on a baseball tield, outside oit the base lines connecting the base holes, and un,i formly distant from said base lines and base holes according to the respective positions ot the nine out players on a baseball field, in combination with t'our or more operating balls ot substantially uniform size distinguished each from the others by different markings thereon, the diameter of each ot said balls being larger than the diameter ot each ot said smaller holes, and smaller than the diameter of each ot said larger holes, and a chamber beneath said raised board adapted to receive and retain said balls when they drop through said larger openings, substantially as described.

3. A game box comprising a tray, the inside surface ot the bottom of: which is fiat, a raised guard rim around the edges thereot, the bottom ot said tray being provided with four holes ot uniform size eX- tending therethrough and arranged in the positions of the 'tour bases on a baseball field, and also provided with nine other holes of uniform size but larger than said base holes, extending through said board and arranged in the positions ot the nine out players on a baseball field, outside of the base lines connecting the base holes, and uniformly distant from said base lines and base holes according to the respectivo positions of the nine out players on a baseball held., and a receiving chamber nnderneath the bottom ot said tray.

t. ln a game apparatus a set of? 'four or more operating balls distinguished each from the others by different markings thereon, in combination with a fiat tray provided ivith four holes each smaller in diameter than the diameter of each of said balls and located in the positions ot the t'our bases on a baseball field, and also provided vvith nine other holes each larger in diameter than the diameter of each of said base holes and located so as to represent the positions of the nine outl players on a baseball field outside of the base lines connecting the base In testimony whereof I haye signed my holes, and uniformly distant from said base name in presence of two subscribing Witlines and base holes in accordance With the nesses.

respective positions of the nine out play- HARRY W. STANDIDGE. ers on a baseball field, all of said holes being Witnesses:

in the bottom of said tray, and a raised MARTIN H. DALY7 guard around the outer margin of the tray. DAVID GRIER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

